Massage apparatus.



No. 765,746. PATENTED JULY 26, 1904, W. MINER.

MASSAGE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. e. 1904.

no MODEL.

7 4 I I 1 1 7 H J 1 W Edi . and has relation more particularly to massage apparatus of the type 1n which a partial vacu- 5 UNITED STATES Patented July 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER MINER, OF ORESTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A. D. GUSTIN, OF ORESTON, IOWVA.

MASSAGE APPARATUS.

SPECIIEIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,746, dated July 26, 1904.

Application filed February 6, 1904. Serial No. 192,416. (No model.

To all whom it iii/my concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER MINER, a citiinvented a new and useful Massage Apparatus, I

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to massage apparatus,

um is the means employed for developing the portion of the body towhich the apparatus is applied.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved form of massage apparatus of the type specified in which means is provided for readily controlling the degree;

. of suction produced by the apparatus and for entirely relieving'the part of any suction prior to removing the apparatus from operative position.

In attaining the object above mentioned and others which will appear as the invention is 1 more fully disclosed I prefer to make usev of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and having the novel features thereof-clearly pointed out in the appended claims. 1

In describing the invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred form of embodiment of the in- 1 vention is illustrated, it being understood that changes in the form, proportions, and exact mode of assemblage of the elements exhibited may be made within the scope of the append- Referring to the drawings, P designates an exhaust-pump ofany suitable construction for producing a vacuum within the reservoir R, to which the pump is operatively connected. G is a gage of any suitable type mounted upon the reservoir R and used to indicate the degree of exhaustion within the reservoir.

R is a smaller reservoir connected with the reservoir R by means of a tube T, provided with a check-valve T intermediate of its ends,

S designates a suction-tubeextending from the top of the smaller reservoir R, and H is a hose of rubber or other flexible material attached to the end of the suction-tube S.

The exhaust-pump is provided with a valve P, by means of which communication between the exhaust-pump and the reservoir R may be cut off, as shown,'and a valve V is provided in the bottom of the reservoir R to discharge the contents thereof. If desired, a valve S may be provided in the suction -tube S; but such a valve is not necessary. The hose H forms the flexibleconnection between the suctiontube S and the device to be applied to the suriace of the body and indicated generally as I The device A consists, essentially, of a substantially hemispherical cup 1, of soft rubber, preferably provided on its concave surface with a plurality of concentric ribs or ridges 2 and having the margins thereof flared slightly outward, as shown. The cup 1 is securedupon a short externallyethreaded tube3, which extends through anopening at.

the centerzofthe cup and is proVided at its end with an .butwardly-projecting flange 4,:-

spaced from ithe threads upon the outside of the tube-by a circumferential groove 5, into which the resiliencytofnthe'material. of the support of a spiral valve-spring 8, which is fitted in the bore of the tube. The tube 3 itself is screwed into the end of a valve-casing 9, in which works a-valve-plug 10, which is preferably of tubular form, as shown, and is provided with a flange 11, which is held nor of the valve-casing.

mally in contact with a shoulder 12 within the valve-casing by the spring 8. The valve-plug is slightly reduced in diameter above the flange 11 to provide an air-passage between the plug and the wall of the valve-casing, which has a small lateral opening 13 therein slightly above the shoulder 12. At its upper end the valve-plug is externally threaded, as shown, and a small collar 14 is screwed upon the said threaded portion to limit the longitudinal movement. of the valve-plug in the casing. The upper end of the casing is counterbored, as shown at 15, and the downward movement of the plug against the upward pressure of the spring 8 is limited by the con- "tact of the collar 14 with the bottom of the said counterbore.

To facilitate the downward movement of the valve-plug against the pressure of the spring 8, a collar 16 is screwed upon the Lip-- per end of the valve-plug, and in order to prevent the escape of air at the upper end of the valve-casing a rubber disk 17 is secured over the counterbo're 15 by means of a collar 18, having an inwardly-disposed flange which presses the disk firmly against the outer end In order to afford a suitable connection between the hose H and the suction-cup 1, the lateral opening 18 into the bore of the valvecasing is counterbored, as shown at 1 9, and a tubular handle 20 has one end screwed firmly into said counterbore, and the other end is fitted into the end of the hose.

In using the apparatus as above described the suction-cup 1 is applied to any portion of the body upon which it is desired to maintain suction for any purpose, and, if necessary, a thick ointment or other suitable lute is spread over the surface of the body at that point in order to insure air-tight contact of the margin of the cup with the cuticle. The Valve-plug is then manually depressed against the pressure of the spring 8 in order to permit the passage of air through the tubular handle from the valvecasing into the suction-tube. The valves in the suction-tube and in the tube connecting the reservoirs R and R being open, the air will be drawn out of the suction-cup 1 through the reservoir R and into the larger reservoir, it being of course understood that a suitable degree of exhaustion has first been produced in the reservoir R by the operation of the exhaust-pump P. When the desired degree of suction has been produced over the area covered by the cup 1, the pressure of the operators thumb upon the valve plug will be slightly relaxed and the spring 8 will at once raise the plug and cut off the escape of air from the suction-cup. After suction has been maintained for a sufficient length of time the operator will remove his thumb and air will be allowed to enter the suction-cup through the bore of the tubular Valve-plug,

thus restoring the normal atmospheric pressure within the cup and permitting the cup to be detached from the surface treated without discomfort to the patient.

As is well known, massage devices of the general type to which this invention relates are used for a great variety of purposes-as, for example, the development of an increase of tissue in portions of the body where abnormal hollows and depressions exist, for dilating the arterioles in subcutaneous tissues in order to stimulate the activity of the hairfollicles, and for other purposes. Whatever the use to which the massage device is put it is exceedingly desirable that means for accurately gaging the degree of suction produced be provided, and it is also a desideratum of importance to provide means for restoring the normal atmospheric pressure within the suction-cup prior to the removal of the suction-cup from contact with the surface of the body, as the removal of the suction-cup is otherwise attended by more or less discomfort to the patient and the good results de- Y sired from the use of the apparatus may be in part lost by the production of the small extravasations of blood into the subcutaneous cellular tissue.

From the foregoing description of the construction and use of the massage device it will be seen' that by producing within the reservoir R and the smaller reservoir R the desired degree of exhaustion, as indicated by the gage G, the operator may produce over any localized area of the body any degree of suction under fifteen pounds to the square inch. It will also be seen that the duration of the suction can be accurately gaged and the release of the suction-cup accomplished without any inconvenience or discomfort to the patient.

While only one suction-cup has been illustrated in connection with the other portions of the apparatus, it is to be understood that a plurality of suction-cups of different diameters will preferably be furnished with each apparatus in order that the area subjected to treatment may be accurately localized and the extension of the treatment to other portions of the surface upon which it is not required may be avoided.

The provision of the reservoir R between the reservoir R and the suction-cup is merely to provide achamber into which fluids drawn from the body by the action of the device when used for various medical and surgical purposes may be received and no interference with the action of the device he occasioned by the entrance of such fluids into the reservoir or exhaust-chamber R. In order to prevent the entrance of the fluids in the res- 'ervoir R into the connecting-tube T, that tube is connected with the reservoir or chamber R at the top, and body fluids entering the said reservoir or chamber will not come into contact with the end of said tube until the reservoir or chamber is completely filled.

Having thus described the construction and operation of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-' 1. In apparatus of the class described, a suction-cup, a valve-casing operatively connected therewith, and a tubular valve-plug arranged in the casing and held normally in position to prevent escape of air between the plug and the casing.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a suction-eup, a valve-casing operatively associated with said cup, a tubular valve-plug arranged in said casing and held normally in position to prevent the escape of air between said plug and said casing, and an air-exhaust conduit leading outward from said casing.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a suction-cup, a tubular member upon which said cup is clamped, a valve-easing mounted on said tubular member, an air-exhaust conduit leading from said casing, and a spring-oper ated valve arranged in said casing and adapted to remain normally in position to prevent the passage of air' between said plug and said casing.

t. In apparatus of the class described, a suction-cup, a tubular valve-casing secured upon said cup, an air-exhaust conduit leading from said casing, a valve-plug in said caslng held normally in position to prevent the passage of air between said plug and said casing, and a seal upon the outer end of said casing to prevent the passage of air between said casing and said plug, said tubular plug being extended through said seal.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a suction-cup, a tubular valve-casing mounted on said cup and having a lateralaperture, an airconduit leading from said lateral aperture, a spring-pressed tubular valve in said casing held normally in position to prevent the passage of air between the valve and the casing, a rubber disk having a central aperture through which said plug extends, means for clamping said disk upon the upper end of said casing and means on the valve-plug for clamping said disk in association with said valve-plug.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

IVALTER MIN ER WVitnesses:

CHAS. E. SLAUGHTER, J. M. MoCoRNAoK. 

